In the finishing process, workers were exposed to chemical splashes, dust and mist, leather dust, paint spray and organic vapours. Some workers in the shaving and buffing area used cotton and leather gloves. Synthetic rubber gloves with inner cotton gloves were used by workers in the spraying and dyeing area. Workers

who handled vacuum dryers, staking, spraying, sorting and measuring wore dust masks. The majority of the workers practiced basic behavioural principles in personal protection such as refraining from eating, chewing, drinking and smoking in work areas. They washed the exposed skin areas thoroughly after handling chemicals. Blasticidin S datasheet Moisturizers and hand creams were not available. Bathroom and dressing room were available at selleck products the observed tanneries. A description of the exposure to skin hazardous working circumstances is presented MK2206 in Table 2. Despite this observation, we also noticed some reluctance against the use of PPE in this population. Especially the workers without skin problems were somewhat reluctant to use PPE, whereas workers with an OSD were more inclined to use PPE. Table 2 Description of exposure to skin hazardous working circumstances Area of operation Potential hazards present PPE required Availability of PPE in the factory

Observation in worker practices Preparation and pre-tanning (beam house) Direct and airborne exposure to acids/alkalis in chemical dusts and mists Pesticides Bacteria Gloves Safety boots Respirator Goggles Gloves Apron Safety boots Cotton masks Glove, apron cotton masks only used by <50% of the workers Safety boots used by all workers Tanning area Direct and airborne exposure to acids/alkalis in chemical dusts and mists Gloves Apron Safety boots Goggles Respirator Carnitine dehydrogenase Gloves Apron Safety boots Cotton masks Gloves,

apron, safety boots used by 50% of the workers Cotton masks only used by <30% of the workers Finishing Injuries Chemical splashes Chemical dust and mist Leather dust Paint spray Organic vapour High humidity Gloves Apron Safety boots Goggles Respirator Gloves Apron Cotton masks Gloves and cotton masks only used by workers at dyeing section Aprons used by almost all workers Questionnaire study and physical examination Four hundred and seventy-two workers (112 women and 360 men) were enrolled into the study. Demographic characteristics of the workers are shown in Table 3. The prevalence of current occupational skin problems, based on the NOSQ, was 12% (it was reported by 57 workers—13 from beam house and pre-tanning, 18 from tanning and 26 from finishing process). Forty-two workers had a history of OSD (18 workers from the beam house and pre-tanning, 10 from tanning and 14 from finishing process) and 373 worker had no skin problems. The prevalence rate of current OSD based on the dermatological examination of the skin in this population was 10% (Table 4). The dermatological diagnoses of occupational related skin diseases are shown in Table 4.